City on the Oscars: Timothy Dalton

Timothy Dalton can justifiably lay claim to being City’s most famous fan.

Any actor who can claim to have played James Bond twice in their career has every right to assume that mantle, not that Dalton ever would.

He is based in the Hollywood hills these days, but Cheadle-raised Dalton is a lifelong City fan who still takes defeat badly and enjoys victory as enthusiastically as any South Stand dweller does on a matchday.

He was last in town for the 1-0 win over Blackpool on New Year’s Day, but the memory of his first City game is still crystal clear in his memory.

“I remember being very little, probably about eight-years-old, and me and my friend used to get on the bus to Platt Lane and walk through towards Maine Road,” he recalled.

“We’d always try and get into the game by sneaking through the legs of the fans and under the turnstiles so that we could watch without having to pay.

“We used to watch from what we called the ‘Popular Stand’ which eventually became the Kippax. We got beat on the day of my first game, but I’ll never forget watching those sky blue shirts playing on that green pitch.”

There is no doubt in Dalton’s mind who is his all-time hero and he has vivid recollections of his idol at the peak of his powers

“Without question it was Bert Trautmann,” he said. “He was fantastic. He was a hero for great reasons and he saved City on more occasions than I care to remember. I remember one player unleashing an almighty volley and Trautmann didn’t even have to move, he simply put one hand up and caught the ball.

“Not only that, but as that famous FA Cup final proved, he had bravery as well as brilliance.”

“With the internet and satellite television, I can watch about half of City’s games live,” he revealed. “A number of US channels cover Premier League matches but if they don’t cover a particular game then I’ll go to the City website, watch the Matchday Centre and listen to the radio coverage on there.”

Dalton is already counting the days until his next visit to the City of Manchester Stadium though win, lose or draw, he’s promised he’ll neither be shaken, nor stirred…

You can read an extended Timothy Dalton’s full interview in the latest issue of our official ManC.